Rivka (Reva) Cowan Lieberman was the fourth child (and second girl) of the nine Cowan siblings.

Scope and Content

File consists of photographs of Rivka with her daughter Ruth, with her husband Frank Lieberman, and of herself in later years. As well, there is family correspondence, two copies of her 1997 memoir, an invitation to her 90th birthday hosted by her family, an undated audiotape of an interview with her, and material pertaining to her son David's career as a psychologist at a university in Scotland.

Item is an audio cassette in a series on Jewish disabled persons. Harriet interviewed Jewish disabled persons in order to assess the needs of the community as part of a project to establish services and a home.

Item is an audio cassette of students who are working on a Task Force for Jewish Disabled Persons interviewing members of the Jewish community, including Jewish disabled persons, to gather information in order to produce 5 minute trigger films.

Item is an audio cassette related to an education session on learning disabilities at the Conference on the Jewish Disabled. Speaking on tape are Rabbi I. Witty (Chairman), Rabbi Ebstein from New York, Mrs. R Fleishman and Dr. Hillel Goelman.

Item is an audio cassette of the Weekly News Digest, published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NYC, New York. It is recorded by volunteers under the auspices of the Canadian Jewish Congress for use by physically and visually handicapped persons. Side 1 is dated June 8-15, 1984, and side 2, June 15-22, 1984.

Toronto Section's executive historically incorporated five or six vice-presidents, each in charge of a portfolio made up of a group of related committees. The Communication portfolio was responsible for Toronto Section's public relations and publicity.

Scope and Content

This sub-series includes copies of the Toronto Section's Bulletin (1951-1975), and Council Communiques (1975-1988). It also contains parts of scrapbooks, slide shows, and audio-visual presentations created between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s in an effort to document and advertise the section's activities.

The Men's Clothing Manufacturer's Association of Ontario (MCMAO) was formed and incorporated in 1919 under the name of the Associated Clothing Manufacturers. The Association’s primary mandate was the representation of its membership in negotiations with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and later, the Toronto Joint Board of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. The MCMAO membership was comprised of manufacturers of men's clothing in Toronto and Hamilton and included such prominent manufacturers as Tip Top Tailors, Empire Clothing and Shiffer-Hillman among others. The Association was also involved in furthering the interests of the clothing industry in Ontario and with all matters pertaining to the clothing business in which the association’s membership was interested. The MCMAO was a represented member of the Apparel Manufacturers’ Association of Ontario and the Apparel Manufacturers’ Council of Canada. The MCMAO ceased operation around 1989.

Custodial History

There is no information on the acquisition of these records. They came into the Archives in the early 1990s but the original source from the Association is unknown. The records were stored at the OJA's offsite storage location until 2008, when they were transferred to the OJA vault for processing.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the Association’s role in negotiations with the employee’s union on behalf of their membership, as well as their work in lobbying senior levels of government on such matters as labour relations, tariffs and taxes, and other issues related to the production of men’s and boys’ garments. The records include legal documents; executive and committee meeting minutes; financial records; arbitration, mediation and negotiation reports and correspondence; collective agreements; labour statistics; general correspondence files; parliamentary briefs, submissions and reports; and seminar photographs. There are also files related to specific bodies that the Association collaborated or corresponded with, such as the Toronto Club of Clothing Designers. Of particular interest are the files of the Overseas Garment Workers Commission, which documents the Associations' role in helping bring over Jewish refugees and other Displaced Persons as tailors and garment workers.

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Related Material

Queen’s University Archives holds records of the MCMAO dating from 1920 to 1969. These records appear to have originated from the same source and at one point the collection had been split in two. The fonds at Queen’s is complementary to the OJA’s fonds and together, the two fonds provide a complete picture of the MCMAO and its work.

Library and Archives Canada holds the records of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America fonds.

The Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee was established in 1982, in order to document the history of the Y.M.-Y.W.H.A. of Toronto. The committee was chaired by Bert Fine and was mandated by the JCC of Toronto's Executive Committee to collect historical and archival material from the community, which was to be donated to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Scope and Content

This series consists of the records collected by the Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee. The records are predominantly photographs, but also includes some textual records. This series also contains oral histories, created by the committee in order to document the experiences of some of the Y.M.-Y.W.H.A.'s original members.

The series contains a sub-series for the photograph collection, which is organized alphabetically by theme, event or person and is described at the file and item levels. There is also a sub-series for the oral history program, which is described at the sub-series level.

The 1991 AGM included the awarding of the Ben Sadowski Award for community leadership and the Shem Tov volunteer recognition awards. The guest speaker was Michael Schneider, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Scope and Content

File consists of a set of unofficial minutes from the AGM of United Jewish Welfare Fund on 10 January 1991. The file also includes an audio recording of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Toronto Jewish Congress. Leaders present at that meeting include Herb Rosenfeld, past president; Sheila Engel, vice-president; Steve Ain, TJC executive director; Jack Chisvin, incoming president; Dr. Gerald Albert, winner of the Ben Sadowski Award; and Dr. Arnold "Bucky" Epstein, chair of the Sadowski Award committee. In addition, the file includes photographs of Herb Rosenfeld, Jack Chisvin, Ronald Appleby at the podium, the volunteer recognition award winners and Leadership Development Award winners Elaine Lightstone and David Engel.

File consists of a set of unofficial minutes from the 1990 Annual Meeting of United Jewish Welfare Fund on 25 January 1990. The file also contains photographs from the Toronto Jewish Congress AGM and a recording of the proceedings. Many of the photographs are of Volunteer Recognition Award winners. There are also images of Irving Feldman and other speakers at the podium and a wide shot of the audience. Among those seated in the audience are past honourary vice-president Morris B. Kaufman, Sam Sable, and Madeleine Epstein.

The 1992 AGM celebrated United Jewish Welfare Fund's 75th anniversary. It included the awarding of the Leadership Development and the Shem Tov volunteer recognition awards.

Scope and Content

File consists of a set of unofficial minutes from the AGM of United Jewish Welfare Fund on 10 January 1991. File also contains a cassette recording of the 1992 Annual Meeting of the newly-renamed Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto on 2 June 1992, and that body's first AGM.

The 1993 AGM was the second annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (the 76th year as a Federation). Leaders at this time included Federation president Dr. Gerald Albert, president, and Steven Ain, executive vice-president.

Scope and Content

File consists of a set of unofficial minutes of the AGM of the United Jewish Welfare Fund on 19 January 1993. The file also includes a recording of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (UJWF) on 8 June 1993.

The 1994 AGM of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto was held on 21 June, 1994, in the Leah Posluns Theatre at the Bathurst JCC. At the meeting, outgoing President Bernard Ghert delivered his report, members of the Executive Board and officers were elected and volunteer recognition awards were given out. There was also a preview of the report from the Task Force on Jewish Continuity, Assimilation and Intermarriage. Award recipients included: Judy Gwartz, who was honoured with the Ben Sadowski Award of Merit; Leadership Development Award winners Jill Goldberg Reitman and Les Klein; and Wilfred Posluns, who was recognized with a special Distinguished Service Award. Recipients of the Shem Tov volunteer awards were Lewis J. Moses, Elliott Peranson, Jack Schwartz, Michael Steele, Rabbi Dr. Sol Tanenzapf and Cyrel Troster.

Scope and Content

File consists of the programme from and a recording of the Third Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto. It also includes 28 photographs taken at the event, including speakers at the podium and winners of the Leadership Development Awards.

The 1995 AGM of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto was held on 7 June, 1995 at the Leah Posluns Theatre at the Bathurst JCC. The program highlights included the election of the Federation Council for 1995-1996, a Council business meeting, an update from the Continuity Committee and a presentation on "Demographic Highlights" of the dramatically expanded Toronto community. As well, the Distinguished Volunteer Recognition Awards were given out. Recipients included Rosanne Ain, Robert Berkovitz, Garry Foster, Elly Gotz, David Green, Aaron Landau, Beverly Lyons and Dr. Marvin Nash. Barbara Bank and David Barkin received the Leadership Development Awards and Professor Sydney Eisen was honoured with the Ben Sadowski Award of Merit.

Scope and Content

File consists of a programme from and recording of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (the 78th year as a Federation).

The 1996 AGM of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto was held Tuesday, 4 June, 1996, at the Leah Posluns Theatre. The meeting included the elections for the Federation Council, Board of Governors and Board of Directors, a Council Business meeting, president's address and a presentation of the Community Vision Campaign. The Distinguished Volunteer Service Awards were also given out. Recipients of the Shem Tov Awards were Karen Chisvin, David Herlick, Harold Hertzman, Jessica Pelt and Dorothy Shoichet. Heather Milstein and Robert Furman received the Leadership Development Awards, and the Ben Sadowski Award of Merit was given to Jack Chisvin.

Scope and Content

File consists of a programme from and a recording of the fifth Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (the 79th year as an organized community). The images include a reception with refreshments and awards at the Lipa Green Building and the meeting at the Leah Posluns Theatre, which included a performance by the Bialik Day School choir. The images include speakers at the podium, gifts and awards being presented, people around the refreshment table, pairs and groups of attendees and nine photographs of the choir.

The 1999 UJA Federation AGM was held 2 June, 1999 at the Atkinson branch of the Associated Hebrew Schools. The program included elections, the Council meeting, a fundraising report, incoming and outgoing presidents' remarks, a tribute to the Consul General of Israel, Jehudi Kinar, and his wife Ruti, and the presentation of volunteer recognition awards. The award recipients included Sandra Atlin, Richard Cummings, Igor Korenzvit, Sydney Loftus, Marilyn Raphael, Lawrence Smith and Edith Sobel. The Leadership Development Awards were presented to Tammy Anklewicz and Bruce Leboff; the Ben Sadowski Award of Merit winner was Harry Gorman; and the Phil Granovsky Award for Campaign Excellence went to Peter Ekstein.

Scope and Content

File consists of a programme and photographs from the 1999 Annual General Meeting of the UJA Federation. The images include a performance by the Associated Hebrew School choir; speakers at the podium; award winners; and many attendees. Identified individuals in the photographs include David Engel, co-chair of the 2000 Annual Campaign (Campaign for 50), Abe Glowinsky, Judy Gwartz, Marilyn Raphael, Peter Epstein, Tammy Anklewicz and Lisa Morrison.

The UJA Federation AGM for 2000 was held on 7 June at the Lipa Green Building. The programme included: a Federation Council Business meeting wth elections for the Board of Directors, President and Board of Governors; president's remarks; and volunteer recognition awards. Recipients of the Shem Tov Awards were Bert Cohen, Alex Gorlick, Mark Jadd, Harvey G. Kotler, Q.C., Tom Lobel, Keith Ray, Nancy Ruth, Ralph Snow and Jeff Wagman. The Leadership Development Awards were presented to David Beron and Miriam Rosenberg; the Phil Granovsky Award for Campaign Excellence was awarded to Judy Engel.

Scope and Content

File consists of an invitation, programme from and recording of the Annual General Meeting of the UJA Federation in 2000, along with 15 photographs from the event. The images are of recipients of the Shem Tov and other volunteer recognition award winners. Judy Engel is pictured with her husband David Engel and two of their sons. The file also contains a copy of the By-laws of UJA Federation, as amended for adoption by Council at the AGM.

Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or his/her heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Ben Newman was born in July 1920 in St Catharines. He married Sheila Gould from Winnipeg. Ben's father, Abraham emigrated to St. Catharines from Russia in 1909, living with his aunt and uncle and helping them with their junk business. His wife, Mary and two children followed later. Four more children were born in Canada: Norman, Benjamin, Rebecca and Gordon. Benjamin took over the company after Abe’s retirement and turned it into one of the largest steel manufacturers in Canada. Ben Newman was active in all phases of Jewish life in the community and was the first Jewish Alderman in St Catharines, a position he held for several years.

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Joseph "Joe the Orangeman" Fremar was a produce merchant in Kensington Market and opened his location on Augusta Avenue in 1938. Freamar, commonly referred to as the "Orangeman" was a member of the Kiever Synagogue.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Fremar, Joseph

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Shockett, Bess

Geographic Access

Augusta Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

Started at location on 334 Augusta Street in 1938

Only one other merchant on Augusta at that time. He sold vegetables

His home was on Oxford Street

Since he arrived in 1938 most of the merchants have “changed around”

When he arrived in 1938 the Anshe Lida Synagogue was located on Augusta. It was located at the current fish store location

The congregants were originally from Romania

There were no religious Jewish Schools on Augusta at the time

Synagogues at the time were: Lubavitcher on Grange; Kiever on Denison; Minsker.

A man by the name of Biasky (?) brought Joseph into the Kiever Synagogue which he attended only on holidays. He also attend the Londoner Synagogue on Spadina

Joseph is still a Kiever member, does not attend but pays dues to in order to maintain his cemetery plot, which the Kiever holds at the Roselawn Cemetery.

Source

Oral Histories

In this clip, Joseph Fremar, also known as &quot;Joe the Orange Man&quot;, talks about the social politics and financial expectations around belonging to certain Toronto synagogues versus others.

In this clip, Joseph Fremar, also known as "Joe the Orange Man", talks about the changing population of Toronto

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Dr. Sam Hurwich was involved in a number of organzations including the Canadian Jewish Congress, JIAS and several Labour Zionist groups.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Hurwich, Sam

Hurwich, Rivka

Geographic Access

Toronto

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

AC 22 Side 1:

00:14 Dr. Hurwich explains that while he was in medical school between 1919 and 1926 a number of organizations started Sunday schools to provide Jewish education for children in the community. The earliest schools he recalls were at Holy Blossom established by Edmund Scheuer and at the Zionist Centre. Dr. Hurwich briefly taught at the Zionist Centre.

1:04 The Ladies Group at the McCaul St. Shul asked Dr. Hurwich to organize a school and serve as Principal. Dr. Hurwich list the women involved with the program. 150 students, both boys and girls met once a week on Sundays initially. Later, classes were held twice a week.

3:00 Dr. Hurwich explains that the leaders of the synagogue were very supportive. Outside of Talmud Torah there was no other formal Jewish education.

3:30 Dr. Hurwich list the melameds (private teachers) at the time and discusses his own Jewish education.

4:40 Dr. Hurwich mentions Dr. L.J. Solway (the son of one of Sam’s teachers) and describes his path to study medicine. Dr. Hurwich and Stephen Speisman discuss other members of the Solway family. Two brothers were shochtim (ritual slaughterer) and one brother was a sofer (scribe).

6:39 Dr. Hurwich explains that he was approached to be the school’s principal because of his background knowledge and previous experience as a teacher.

7:20 The students were taught Hebrew, Chumash, tefillah and Yiddish.

8:58 Dr. Hurwich explains that he has no knowledge of school established by Ida Siegal in 1912/13.

9:24 Dr. Hurwich’s family attended the McCaul St. Shul.

9:32 Mrs. Hurwich explains that the National Radical School, the first secular Yiddish school, opened in 1911/12 on Simcoe St. Mrs. Hurwich attended this school.

10:25 The Farband School, Zionistic in spirit, was organized in the 1920’s as an offshoot of the Radical School (which later became the Peretz Shule) that was anti-Zionist. The Farband School taught both Yiddish and Hebrew. Dr. Hurwich briefly discusses the history of the Farband (starting in the U.S., opening first in Montreal and later in Toronto).

12:30 Dr. Hurwich mentions other secular schools and their locations.

13:19 Dr. Hurwich discusses the conflict between the religious community and the National Radical School (later Workman’s Circle). E.g. Religious groups opposed the secular groups because they organized events on Saturday; Workman’s Circle opposed Zionist groups, etc.).

14:58 Dr. Hurwich comments that the signing of the Balfour Declaration had a uniting effect on the Jewish community.

16:19 Mrs. Hurwich describes the inception and growth of the National Radical School between 1911 and 1916. The school was able to revive the spirit of Jewish (Yiddish) revival through the teaching of language, music, literature and folklore. At its peak there were 500 children attending the school 3 times a week.

21:00 Mrs. Hurwich discusses that after the First World War, a school was established by Mr. Morris Goldstick. She explains that each Sunday children would collect money for the school at 194 Beverly.

22:11 Stephen Speisman comments that this type of organization grew into the Canadian Jewish Congress.

23:00 Mrs. Hurwich speaks of the influence this school had on her and other children’s lives. She comments, for example, that the children mourned Peretz’s death as if he were a relative.

24:29 Mrs. Hurwich discusses the leadership and teachers of the National Radical School.

25:58 Stephen Speisman cites an incident in which the National Radical School is accused of attempting to convert children to Christianity. Dr. & Mrs. Hurwich were not aware of this accusation.

26:58 Dr. Hurwich suggests that the signing of the Balfour Declaration was the stimulus for the creation of the Sunday school at the Zionist Centre. The school was designed to augment Jewish education with Zionistic ideology.

28:12 Stephen Speisman cites a second incident involving objections from the religious community to a proposal to hold a picnic in Lambton Park on Shabbat. Dr & Mrs. Hurwich concur that this may have occurred.

29:10 Dr. Hurwich explains that the school at Holy Blossom run by Edmund Scheuer did not have a Zionistic spirit. The Zionist Sunday school was a reaction to this school, as well.

31:10 Dr. Hurwich describes the efforts of Mr. ?Hyman, an engineer turned Hebrew teacher, and Mr. Israel Freeman, a chalutz from Palestine who moved to Canada, to organize a Hebrew Speaking Club for young people at Simcoe St. Talmud Torah.

34:26 Dr. Hurwich discusses the various Yiddish and Hebrew groups available for Jewish youth in Toronto.

36:10 Dr. Hurwich suggests there was no animosity among the Zionists. Young Judea had been founded by that time.

37:16 Dr. and Mrs. Hurwich list people who were active in youth groups and education in that era.

39:30 Dr. Hurwich discusses some shuls from that era: a shul on Richmond St that his grandfather helped found and a shul on Elm St. He recalls learning Gemorah at the Elm St. Shul in 1912.

42:24 Rabbi Yudi Rosenberg was Rabbi at the Elm St. Shul. Dr. Hurwich mentions other Rabbis from that era: Rabbis Weinreb, Gordon and Graubart.

AC 22 Side 2

00:10 Dr. Hurwich discusses his encounters with anti-Semitism while in public school and in an attempt to find a Pediatric internship at Hospital for Sick Children.

Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or his/her heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Ida Weisteld (nee Gazer) was born in 1907 in Brantford, Ontario. Her father, Velvel Gazer, settled in Brantford in 1900. Ida attended King Edward Public School and Brantford Collegiate Institute. As a child, she attended Cheder and participated in a boys and girls social group. She took a business course and worked as a bookkeeper after high school. She was married in Toronto in 1933.

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Fred Schaeffer's wife, Beverley, grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Beverley's grandfather, Hyman Kaplan, emigrated from Vilna, Lithuania in 1907, and after a few years in New York, moved to Toronto. Shortly afterwards he became the first Jew to settle in Kirkland Lake in 1914.

In the 1920s the Jewish community in Kirkland Lake built a permanent synagogue, and acquired the Aron Kodesh of Eastern European design, its lamps, railings, pews and reader’s desk, from the disbanded Ukrainishe Shul in Montreal. In the 1970s the Kirkland Lake Synagogue disbanded and Fred and Beverly Schaeffer acquired the Aron Kodesh, all of its furnishings, the Ner Tamid and the Parochet. They generously donated these Jewish artifacts to Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Toronto, in 1988, in memory of Isadore Kaplan, father of Beverly Schaeffer and Erich Schaeffer, father of Fred Schaeffer.

Fred, married Beverley in Toronto. Like many children from Kirkland Lake, Beverley had moved to the city to attend university. Fred and Beverley are keen collectors of Canadian art. He is a retired civil engineer and a former chairman of the Canadian art historical committee at the AGO.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Schaeffer, Fred

Geographic Access

Krugerdorf, Ont.

Timmins, Ont.

Kirkland Lake, Ont.

Swastika, Ont.

Ansonville, Ont.

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

AC 024: Side A

0.14: Fred discusses the first Jews to settle in Northern Ontario in the area around Krugerdorf/Engelhart. He mentions Edith Atkinson (nee Martin) as a good primary source of information. Edith’s father, a Russian Jew who came to Canada via Scotland was employed by Temagami and Northern Ontario Railway to bring Russian Jews to work on the railroad.

1.11: Atkinson is related to Atkins and Etkins families.

2.25: Jewish families received land patents in the area of Krugerdorf (north of Engelhart).

5.42: Earliest records in Jewish cemetery in Krugerdorf were 1906. Relates a story involving a canoe accident. Tells a brief history of the cemetery.

8.00: Railway started to develop in 1908/9 with the opening of the mines in Timmins. Many Jews followed the railroad.

8.45: Mentions that the Purkiss family opened a chain of stores in every town that opened.

9.25: Mentions that the Bucavetsky family was well-known in Timmins.

9.58: Jews had settled in Cochrane.

10.16: First Rabbi in Timmins was Shulman.

11.15: Fred discusses early community organizations. One synagogue on a farm in Krugerdorf area. One synagogue in Engelhart that burnt down. Synagogue in Kirkland Lake built in 1926. Minyans were held in Cochrane and Ansonville (1918/19). Timmins synagogue dates back to 1910/12.

18.02: Fred notes that there were many prominent Jews in Northern Ontario. He names several and describes their positions. (e.g.Dave Korman as Mayor of Engelhart, Rothschild was alderman in Cochrane, Barnie (?) Nasoff was on council and was Reeve of Ansonville, Max Kaplan Kirkland Lake council, Nicky Korman was Mayor).

27.26: Discusses the demise /closure of the synagogue in Kirkland Lake. Remained open until 1979. Last Rosh HaShana services were held in 1977.

28.05: Discusses the situation with the Timmins Jewish community.

30.05: Discusses the plight of a poor Jewish family, the Mallins.

AC 024: Side B

0.15: Fred suggests some reference material. “Northland Post” – good source for info about Jewish community in Northern Ontario. “Silverland” – book that describes Kurt’s Hotel. Special edition of a newspaper that published an article on the history of the Jewish community.

1.48: The Jews of the North have themselves as self-sufficient community during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. They were represented in the first Jewish Congress.

3.33: Fred notes that there was a Jewish presence in most towns in Northern Ontario. He suggest that Haileybury may have been the exception due to antisemitic sentiments.

4.10: Mentions a fire in Haileybury in 1916/17 and the Jewish contribution to fire relief.

4.25: Relates an anecdote re. Hyman Kaplan and Haileybury.

5.48: Describes the location of a few small communities (Elk Lake, Charlton)

Source

Oral Histories

In this clip, Fred Schaeffer and Stephen Speisman discuss some of the earliest synagogues established in Northern Ontario.

In this clip, Fred Schaeffer relates colourful anecdotes about the first Jewish settler in the Swastika-Kirkland area, Roza Brown.

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Isaac Segel, the son of Russian immigrants was born and lived in Toronto’s Ward district until 1900 when the family moved to Orillia, Ontario. Isaac recalls his experiences as one of 3 Jewish boys attending the local Orillia high school and working in his father’s general store. In order to provide a proper Jewish life for Isaac, the family returned to Toronto. In 1917 Isaac enlisted in the army and after his father’s death in 1918, Isaac made his home in Hamilton, Ontario. He was a business executive, active on several executive committees of Jewish and Zionist organizations in Hamilton.

Issac maried Esther (Kenen) Segal who was influential in the National Council of Jewish Women, Hamilton Branch, and their successful attempt to repeal the law that refused the right of women to serve on jury duty.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Segal, Isaac

Segal, Esther

Beube, Lillian

Silbert, Morris

Geographic Access

Hamilton, Ont.

Toronto, Ont.

Orillia, Ont.

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

AC 025: Side 1

0.0-16.14: Isaac Segel, the son of Russian immigrants was born and lived Toronto’s Ward district until 1900 when the family moved to Orillia Ontario. Isaac recalls his experiences as one of 3 Jewish boys attending the local Orillia high school and working in his father’s general store. In order to provide a proper Jewish lifestyle for Isaac, the family returned to Toronto. In 1917, Isaac enlisted in the army and after his father’s death in 1918, Isaac made his home in Hamilton Ontario.

16.15-31.04: Isaac recalls Hamilton’s Jewish community of 800 people, its Orthodox synagogues, and the Jewish immigrants who arrived in Hamilton after the First World War.

31.05-33.24: Division within Hamilton’s Jewish Community. Discussed are the reasons for the division between the Anshe Shalom Reform Congregation and Hamilton’s Orthodox Synagogues. Also discussed is the United Hebrew Association and its control over all philanthropic work within Hamilton’s Jewish Community.

34.05-45.19: Establishment of Hamilton Jewish Social Services 1931. Lillian Beube discusses the United Hebrew Association and its misappropriation of community funds, the formation of Hamilton’s Jewish Social Services and the conflicting ideologies of JSS and UHA.

45.20-46.15: Discussed is Marietta Levy and how she brought together various factions of Hamilton’s Jewish community.

AC 025: Side 2

1.00-13.20: Establishment of Jewish Social Services continued. There is further discussion of UHA’s misappropriation of community funds, its continued refusal to relinquish its prerogative of handling community monies and the events that led to its disintegration of the UHA. Beube discusses Jewish Social Services and its mission to establish itself as a service organization within the Jewish community.

13.20-18.00: Yiddish within the Hamilton Jewish Community. Beube discusses the reasons for the disappearance of the Yiddish language within Hamilton’s Jewish community.

18.01-20.34: Activities of the Council of Jewish Women are discussed.

20.35-22.39: Hamilton’s Orthodox and Conservative communities. Discussion revolves around the Anshe Shalom Temple, its reform practices and the more traditional Orthodox and Conservative movements within the community.

22.40-30.55: Antisemitism in Hamilton. Discussion revolves around antisemitism and assimilation of the Jewish population.